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GLOSSARY OF TERMS
A/C Contractor: A company licensed by the state and local au-
thorities to perform heating ventilation and air-conditioning in-
stallation or repair including pool heat pumps. Allow no others to
repair this unit.
Acetic: Describing pool/spa water that is aggressive in nature with
a Ph value below 7.6. Like acid, orange juice, vinegar etc.
Accumulator: a containment housing in the Freon circuit that col-
lects liquid forms freon that does not evaporate after passing through
the evaporator coil, thus protecting the compressor from damage.
Air Blower: An electronic device that forces air under pressure
through the spa plumbing giving the spa a bubbling effect.
Air Inlet: Used to create bubbling effects for the spa jets. Water
passing through a vortex draws air into the plumbing without the
use of an electronic air blower. Usually controlled by some sort of
knob or lever to shut it on or off.
Alkaline: Describing pool/spa water that is the opposite of acetic
with a Ph value above 7.6. Base, like milk or chalk etc.
Anti Short Cycle Time Delay Device: Keeps the compressor from
being damaged due to the freon gas not being allowed to settle
between cycles, preventing liquid freon from entering the com-
pressor. When the unit stops there will be a certain time delay
before the compressor will start again.
Automatic Chlorinator: A device that feeds either tablet type or
liquid type chlorine concentration into the plumbing piping and
then delivered to the pool/spa water.
Authorized Factory Service: An A/C Contractor factory trained
and under contract with the manufacturer to provide repair ser-
vice.
Back-Siphon: In regards to pool filtering systems where the water
flow reverses through the system when the circulation pump shuts
off. This is usually caused by the vacuum created by the water in
the filtering being above the pool level, or breach in the sealed
water plumbing, allowing air into the system. This condition is
sometimes referred to as a suction or vacuum leak.
Back Pressure: The pressure created by the circulation pump be-
ing restricted by plumbing, filters, solar panels and other related
equipment. Usually due to a dirty filter, measured by the pressure
gauge in the filter housing
Blanket: A plastic cover several mills thick with trapped air bubbles,
cut to the same size as the pool and floats on top of the water to
provide insulation and prevent heat loss. Some types collect small
amounts of heat from the sun and transfer it to the pool water.
Sometimes referred to as a solar blanket.
BTU: British Thermal Units. Measures heat output of a heat pump,
in Btu’s per hour.
Broadcast Type Sprinklers: Part of an irrigation system used to
water plants or grass where the water is sprayed into the air and
distributed directional.
Bypass: Used in the water piping to allow the control of water
flow through the heater at a prescribed rate, thus the rest of the
water flow not needed is diverted through the bypass
Calcium Hardness: The amount of calcium and magnesium con-
tent in pool/spa water calculated by using a test kit for such pur-
poses.
Calcium Hypochlorite: A form of chlorine in a powder form and
rarely in a tablet form used to sanitize pool/spa water. Calcium is
a major component and by-product.
Cartridge Filter: A pool/ spa water filter that is made of pleated
paper and nylon. Usually round with plastic base and top, placed
into a tank that the water is pumped through trapping debris and
dirt. Usually removed and cleaned with a high pressure garden
hose.
Check Valve: A P.V.C. fitting used on the water piping to prevent
reverse flow through the system and insure proper water direction.
Sometimes used to create back pressure and slow the water veloc-
ity.
Chemical Values: The numerical reading you get by using a pool/
spa water test kit to calculate levels of pool chemicals and miner-
als in the pool water at any given time.
Chemical Damage: Any damage or corrosion from pool chemicals
or any other chemicals used around the heat pump or pool. Usu-
ally concentrated chlorine or acetic water corroding the copper
piping or the heat exchanger or other equipment.
Chemical Resistant Check Valve: A check valve placed between
the heater and a chlorinator to prevent the migration of concen-
trated chlorine into the heater.
Chlorinator: A device that is used to feed chlorine to the pool/spa
through the filtering system. Water is pumped through a contain-
ment holding the chlorine. This makes a solution that is then fed to
the pool or spa.
Chlorinator Placement: (Illustrated in this owners manual), show-
ing the proper location and placement of chlorinating devices in
order to prevent chemical damage to the heater.
Chlorine: A common pool/spa water sanitizer available in several
different forms of powder, solid tablets, liquid or gas.
Chlorine Tablets: A common form of chlorine that is solid in na-
ture used in a chlorinator that is eroded by water rushing over these
tablets, making a solution to be slowly fed to the pool water.